Camping

Great campsite at Austin state park, super clean, and nice trails, a little cold at night, but the kiddos loved it and hot chocolate warmed everyone up in the morning.

Thanks grandma for the Christmas present( the insta-tent). We opened it a little early.

Not much happening here

Just some Sunday pecan picking in a pretty spot. My kids are crazy for pecan picking, and seeing that I need pecans for my annual Christmas toffee, I encourage them.

We are looking forward to no schedule the rest of this week... And my first competitive race since high school, just a little turkey trot, but I am preparing for a half marathon that will hopefully take place New Year's Day... I am on the wait list.... So hard to find races around here not on Sunday!

Tough week

My boys have been tough on me this week. Unfortunately my energy does not extend as far as I need it to, especially when I have a cold. Despite that, I made a break through with myself this week and realized that when I do have energy... which is in the morning, it is the time I need to be listening and getting to know them. Other things can wait.

We had an amazing lecture from this man last night at church.

The take home message for me was that I need to

1) know my children well enough to be able to spiritually discern their needs
2) pray over my children,
3) remember they are individuals and what works for one does not necessarily work for another- I loved that he said this, because it allows me to dismiss well meant advise graciously.  Although it does put an actual greater spiritual burden on me to figure out what IS right for them.

I have felt the need to focus my energy on what is really important.  I really liked this quote:

Isn’t it true that we often get so busy? And, sad to say, we even wear our busyness as a badge of honor, as though being busy, by itself, was an accomplishment or sign of a superior life.

Is it?

I think of our Lord and Exemplar, Jesus Christ, and His short life among the people of Galilee and Jerusalem. I have tried to imagine Him bustling between meetings or multitasking to get a list of urgent things accomplished.

I can’t see it.

Instead I see the compassionate and caring Son of God purposefully living each day. When He interacted with those around Him, they felt important and loved. He knew the infinite value of the people He met. He blessed them, ministered to them. He lifted them up, healed them. He gave them the precious gift of His time.

More here

Halloween